Six plus Five equals Eleven plus Two... Thirteen our lucky number! Jim and Ann had Six while going through Medical School and think Greys Anatomy Plus Eleven (Residency and adopting 5 siblings from Foster Care)
Surviving on a Shoestring... Grateful for Today and Our Many Blessings.

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Our Christmas Miracle from 20 Years Ago Tonight

Becca and Santa December 1989 in the Pediatric Intensive Care Center at the Children's Hospital of St. Paul.

Twenty years ago this evening, we were blessed to witness a miracle that will never be forgotten.

As our gift to you I am sharing our Christmas Miracleas told in our autobiography from Tiny Titan, Journey of Hope. That story was retold by Channel 3000 here in Madison in December 2006 and also last Christmas by First for Women Magazine.

Raising Awareness

Our Bakers Dozen

Frugal by Neccessity

In 1989 our youngest daughter Becca was born with a rare genetic disorder, (Noonan Syndrome) and while she struggled to survive, our family tumbled into poverty. With Six children we had to live below the poverty line to qualify for help to cover her million dollars in medical bills.

When my husband lost his job due to Becca's insurance issues, he returned to school. It is never too late to change careers. Two years of undergraduate coursework and four years of medical school were supported by delivering thousands newspapers (coupons galore) and thrifty living...

In the spirit of giving back we went on to adopt five siblings separated in foster care. Leaving our home of twenty years, two families who both knew adversity moved onto the Hope of a new life 600 miles away to begin the Journey through Residency and becoming a New Family. Along the way we soon discovered that our newest children would be diagnosed with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders and challenges from their histories of abuse and neglect. My strength would be tested, my bargain hunting skills honed to feed our family of thirteen on residency pay and prayer.

OurTiny Titan showed us the gift of today and to never, ever give up. Our family CHOSE to not become a statistic of families facing catastrophic illness. We learned to live frugally, stretch a dollar, and find happiness with being together. Instead of feeling hopeless, we found strength in turning the negatives into the positives, by playing the game of living on less.

My children are now all nearly grown, our family no longer financially struggles, but our pennypinching and frugal ways are not forgotten. My husband is now a surgeon, my children make me proud as they have now embraced the lessons they have learned along our journey.

With my book now published, the kids nearly grown, I have a new opportunity... to share our survival strategies, creativity and my latest deals.